Gearbox trouble - 2nd gear

[Nick Longman]

My series 2 has a slightly unhappy gearbox which I have lived with for a bit but am at the point i'd like to get properly sorted.

2nd gear can be tricky to engage when cold, but gets better once warm.  It also jumps out of gear when on the overrun.  So coming up to a junction, select second, then decelerate and more often than not it will jump back into neutral.  I've got used to it by either anticipating it and quickly re-selecting 2nd or just using 3rd!

I'm assuming that it needs to go to a specialist to get sorted, unless anyone is aware of this being a common, easily fixed issue.  Any recommendations?

Thanks,  Nick.

[lancialulu]

The other alternative is to put a call out for a replacement box - 1.3 gearboxes are reasonably available and not too much money compared to labour charges on a box rebuild.

[angelorange]

There are legends about 5 speed boxes being un-burstable - but I have to say (and I have experience with 6 off all the types) they are 40+yrs old and you don't know until you strip one down what the issues really are. The last one fitted split it's bell housing with a pinion/FD issue pre CSCC Silverston just off the M1 !

Some have been run on too little oil - bearing and hub wear, others have had input shaft ot selector fork issues, then there is the worn synchros (mostly on the pinion gears - gear bevels are fine but many wear out synchros that are attached).

I thoroughly recommend you chat with Tony Wilson (who has built racing Hewland gear boxes for some 40 years) - he has 3 of mine at present and is well known to Martin Cliffe of Omicron.

Probably can source correct 2nd gear and hub if required.



TONY WILSON
For Service to Racing Car Transmissions.
HEWLAND Specialist.
Postal address - 43 Hawthorne Ave, Long Eaton,
Nottingham, ENGLAND. NG10 3NG
Workshop address - Unit 2, Wood Court, Clifton Avenue
Long Eaton, Nottingham, ENGLAND NG10 2GA
Telephone: +44 (0)115 946 1013 Answerphone & Autofax
Mobile: 07740 123119 (text message is good first point of contact)
e-mail:tonywilson43@gmail.com